Transformer-cooling system



April 12, 1927. 1,624,346

C. L. KNOTTS TRANSFORMER COOLING SYSTEM F'i led Sept. 10. 1924,

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3 v u ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

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CHARLES LEROY KNOTTS, OF SWISSVALE, :PENNSYLVANIA, OR TO WESIITIIQ'G- HOUSE ELECTRIQ &' MANUFACTURING COMPANY; A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

TRANSFORMER-COOLING SYSTEIVI.

Application filed September 10, 1924. SerialNo. 736,847.

My invention relates to electrical translating devices and particularly to cooling imeans therefor.

One objectof my invention is to provide anelectrical translating device that shall circulate a cooling mediumat 'a rate vary ing in accordance with the temperature of the device.

Another-object of my inventionis to pro vide an electrical translating"device that "shall circulate its insulating fluid in accordance with the amounbof expansion aOf that fluid under the influenceof the heatgener- 'ated'within the translating device.

A further object-of iny-invention is to provide an electrical translating device,

that is partially filled with an inert gas and partially filled with an insulating fluid, that shall prevent undue expansion and contraction of the insulating fluid; thereby preventingexcessive inbreathing and outbreatln in of the inert gas.

Tn electrical translatingdevices, it. is customary practice to .place an inert gas above the fluid insulating medium in order that explosive mixtures may be avoided within such devices. Various means have been proposed- 'for rendering the confined gas inert, or Without an oxygen content- H In some installations, a non combustible, oxygen-free gas is put into the translating device under pressure. In other installations, suitable deoxidizing agents are placed in the path of the incoming air which is thereby robbed of its oxygen content before entering the translating device. In any event, the initial creation of the inert gas in the translating device is attended with certain expense of time and energy and it excessive breathing of the translating device is permitted, this inert gas is rapidly dissipated through the process of outbreathing. By means of the present invention, the fluctuations in the level of the fluid insulating medium are lessened thereby correspondingly lessening the amount of the inert gas that is forced out of the trans lating device during expansion of the in sulating medium.

I propose to accomplish the foregoing results by placing a barrier at approximately the normal level of the insulating medium, the barier preventing communication except under desired conditions between the main body or the insulating fluid and that portion of the insulating fluid contained in cooling radiators. Upon an increase in temperature within the translating device, an expansion of the insulatingfluid takes place, thereby permitting a corresponding quantity'ot the insulating fluid to flow over the barrier and through thegcooling radiators, thereby-reducing the temperature of the translating device.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is aview, partiallyin elevatioi'rand partially in section, of an electrical'translating device embodying my invention.

My invention comprises, in generalya container 1 having anelectrical translatingdevice 2, such as a transformer, mounted therein and surrounded by a body 3 of insulating fluid, such as oil, the contain-er 1 having suitable radiators i securedthereto and communicating with the main body of the insulating fluid 3 when the fluid level stands above an adjustable barrier 55.

The radiators lare preferably supported, as at 6, on the body or the container 1, although'this is not an essential part of-niy invention. The barrier 5 extends circum ferentially around the inside of "the container 1 in such manner as to restrict the flow of the fluid to the radiators l from the main body thereof whenthe translating device is in normal operation.

Referring to the figure oi the drawing, it is noted that the top edge of the barrier 5 is normally at or slightly beiow the level of the fluid 3. The position of the barrier 5 may be varied by means of the adjusting screws 7. The space-S above the oil level 3 is normally filled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen or carbon di-oxide.

Under no-load conditions of the translating device, substantially none of the insulating fluid 3 flows over the top of the barrier 5 and through the radiators 4. However, as the load upon the translating device 1 increases, the amount of thermal energy liberated in the insulating fluid 3 increases with a corresponding expansion thereof and the insulating fluid expands to a new level indicated by the dot-and-dash line 9.

Since the new level of the insulating fluid 3 is materially above the top of the barrier 5, a greater amount of the insulating fluid flows over the barrier and through the radiators l. The increase in the amount of the insulating fluid traversing the radiators 4:

causes a correspondingly increased cooling effect upon the main body or" the insulating fluid 3. When the load is removed from the translating device 2, the insulating fluid 3 continues to circulate freely until the fluid level returns to approximately the top of the barrier 5 when the amount of circulating fluid is reduced to practically zero. Below this point, contraction of the main body of the insulating fluid 3 takes place only in accordance with the amount of heat clirectly radiated therefrom.

Were free circulation of the insulating medium permitted, the shrinkage of the insulating medium, as awhole, would con tinue until the temperature of the portion within the translating device 1 and the portions in the radiators 4 became the same. This would cause a much greater fluctuation in the volume of the gas contained in the space 8 than is the case where the level of the main body of the insulating fluid is held within narrow limits, as is done by the use of my barrier 5.

In my improved electrical translating device, the variation in volume during expansion and contraction of the insulating medium is indicated by the difference between the dot-and-dash line and the normal fluid level, that volume being maintained within narrow limits by reason of the action of the barrier element.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an electrical translating device in which the actual change in volume of the insulating fluid, by reason of variations in load conditions, is materially reduced.

I do not wish to be restricted to the spe cific arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire therefore that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a container having openings therein, an electrical translating device therein, an insulating fluid surrounding the translating device, a cooling member attached to the container at said openings forcirculating the fluid and a barrier substantially flush with the upper surface of the highest of said openings for controlling the amount of fluid traversing the cooling member in accordance with the amount of expansion of the fluid under the influence of the translating device.

2. In combination, a container, an electrical translating device therein, an insulating fluid surrounding the translating device, a radiator attached to the container for circulating the fluid and a barrier disposed adjacent to the normal level of the fluid for controlling the amount of fluid traversing the radiator in accordance with the amount of its expansion under the influence of the translating device.

3. In combination, a container, an electrical translating device therein, an insulating fluid surrounding said translating device, a radiator attached to the container for circulating the fluid and a barrier for controlling the amount of fluid traversing the radiator in accordance with the amount of expansion of the fluid under the influence of the translating device. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of Septenr ber, 1924.

CHARLES L. KN OTTS. 

